As the summer months heat up, some people are trapped behind a desk, in a cubicle, or waiting tables.  This prevents them from soaking up the sun during prime tanning hours and getting that sun-kissed look that tells everyone, “I’m enjoying my summer.”

So what’s the alternative?

Some people think it’s stripping down, jumping into a tanning bed and waiting 10-15 minutes while ultraviolet radiation scorches our skin and turns us…well, let’s all be honest- orange.  We all want a perfect tan throughout the year, not even just during the summer months.  No one likes to be pale and pasty but the effects of tanning beds can be life threatening.

Studies have publicly proven that the overuse of tanning beds can pose as many health risks to the skin as sitting in the sun all day such as cancer, premature ageing, eye damage and, in some cases, allergic reactions.

But fear not tan-orexic’s!  There is a safer, healthier, and quicker way to be bronze and beautiful, and that alternative is spray tanning.

Spray tanning is a spray made from a solution with a natural chemical called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is also found in other tanning solutions like lotions, creams, and gels.  This is made from sugar beets, sugar canes and glycerin and is FDA approved to be a completely safe method for skin tanning.  Because the tanning solution used is sprayed directly onto the skin as a mist it is easy to get a smooth, streak-free finish.

Spray tanning also allows you to pick what shade of brown you want your skin to be based on the wide range of solutions available.  You can start light and gradually increase as you continue the process.  These tans generally last up to 10 days and can be touched up as often as necessary, which is unlike tanning beds where you generally need a numerous amount of sessions to achieve a “perfect” tan.

And nothing will compare to the long-term effect spray tanning will have on your life.  Avoid wrinkles and looking like a dried up, wrinkly piece of leather that most people will comment negatively about.  Skin cancer is a very real side effect from tanning outdoors or in a tanning bed so make the switch to something healthier.

According to the National Center Institute, melanoma rates among 15 to 39-year old Caucasian women rose 50 percent between 1980 and 2004, prompting the World Health Organization to bump indoor tanning beds up to its highest cancer risk category.  Even though some consider spray tanning to be a little more costly than regular tanning beds, the overall safety and long term affects balance out this issue.

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